The Shield nickel was authorized in May of 1866 and struck for circulation in the same year. All coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint. This included coins struck for circulation as well as proof coins struck for collectors. The proof coins were minted in very small quantities and reportedly available for ten cents each at the time of issue. There are some scarce issues amongst the circulating coins with mere tens of thousands minted. Two years of the series were only minted in proof.
The table below contains the mintages for the Shield Nickel coins. All coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
| 1866 | 14,742,500 |
| 1867 Rays | 2,019,000 |
| 1867 No Rays | 28,890,500 |
| 1868 | 28,817,000 |
| 1869 | 16,395,000 |
| 1870 | 4,806,000 |
| 1871 | 561,000 |
| 1872 | 6,036,000 |
| 1873 | 4,550,000 |
| 1874 | 3,538,000 |
| 1875 | 2,097,000 |
| 1876 | 2,530,000 |
| 1877 | Proof Only |
| 1878 | Proof Only |
| 1879 | 25,900 |
| 1880 | 16,000 |
| 1881 | 68,800 |
| 1882 | 11,472,900 |
| 1883 | 1,451,500 |
